Four-way supporting device



y 5, 1937. P. H. MEYEz 2,081,635

FOUR-WAY SUPPORT ING DEVICE Filed. July 31, 1956 ATTORNEY Patented May 25, 1937 UNITED" STATES-" ems- O FFl(3 E This invention relates to supporting devices designed primarily for use in supporting parti-= tion s of shelvingandcounterdisplays,-and the object of the invention 'is to providea deviceof the classdescribedwfashioned from a single rec' tangular sheet whichis die cut and fashioned to also preferredthat the upper end portions of the form two pairs of spaced partition-receiving'and supportingclips 'so arranged and spaced as to provide for the supportof partition members arranged in cross relation withrespect to each other-- or extending *fou'r-ways'from the central portion of said support; a further object being to provide a device of the class described which is provided with a widespread bearing or supporting surface preferably apertured to permit its attachment to a supporting surface; a further object being to provide a device of the class described, the base plate of which consists of an outer rim or peripheral portion joined by cross webs, one of said cross webs including, as an integral part thereof, pairs of resilient clips forming U-shaped partition supporting members; and with these and other objects in view the invention consists in a device of the class and for the purpose specified which is simple and economical in construction, efiicient in use and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing one method of supporting partitions by one of my improved devices.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the blank from which the device is formed.

In carrying my invention into effect, I first blank and die cut from a sheet of metal or other suitable material, a blank 5 as seen in Fig. 4 of the drawing. This blank is substantially rec tangular in form and is preferably provided with rounded corners 6, the corner portions having apertures 1 to facilitate attachment of the device, when desired, to a suitable supporting surface.

The blank 5 has two pairs of similar U-shaped die cuts 8-8a. In bending or folding the blank along the dotted lines 9, the portion of the blank within the die cuts 88a will form upon one surface of the blank U-shaped spring clips 10-4011, 55 the upper corners of which are preferably rounded as indicated at l l-'-l la, note Fig. 3, andthe upper or freeends I2-I2a of the side wallsforming said clips are preferably flared outward 1y, as clearly seen'in Fig; 2 of the drawing-so as to facilitate the insertion of partitiommembers 5 such as l3|4, note Fig. 1, in said clips- It is side-walls formingthe clips I0"l0awill nor mally be flexeddnwardly, as indicated in dotted lines of Fig-. '2 of the drawing; so that in inserting 1 0 the-partitions';' -said"-walls willbe 'sprung 'out-- wardly in order to firmly engage the side surfaces of the partitions.

In forming the U-shaped spring clips I0I0a, as above described, the base plate of the blank 15 will have four substantially rectangular apertures 15, or in other words, the base plate will consist of an outer rim portion joined by a cross web structure 16, one part of the web structure forming the base or bottom walls 5a of the U-shaped 20 clips l0|0a, as clearly indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

In the use of the device, as seen in Fig. 1 of the drawing, a partition 11 is arranged between, and bears upon adjacent edges lb of the U-shaped 25 spring clips l0--l0a, it being understood that the distance between said adjacent edges [Oh will be such as to receive a partition of predetermined thickness, or in other words, the width of the webs I6 between the U-shaped clips is equal or 30 substantially equal to the distance between the side walls of the clips where they join the crosshead or web portions l6a. In this mounting, the adjacent ends of the partitions I3 and I4 abut the side surfaces of the partition II, as clearly 35 seen in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawing. With this construction, a cross or four-way coupling of partitions is formed.

It will be understood, however, that the device may be used as a support for a single partition Wall by arranging one continuous wall in both of the clips l0-l0a, whereas the same may be used as a three-way coupling with a partition I! in the position shown and with one of the partitions l3--l4 in one of the U-shaped clips I 0I0a. In the latter event, one of the clips may be left in unextended position if desired.

One of the distinctive features of my improved device lies in the fact that a long bearing surface is provided for the partition on the device as well as a widespread support of the device on a counter, shelf or other surface which provides a more rigid and secure mounting of the partitions.

It will be understood that the device is designed for use in the support of glass and similar partition strips commonly employed in the sub-division of a shelf or counter to form display sections or compartments in which various kinds and classes of merchandise may be displayed.

In addition to the three-way arrangement or mounting of the partitions. in connection with the supporting device as above described, a partition wall such as l6 may be arranged, for example, along the side edge of the base with the partition abutting the outer edges of the walls l0, and another partition such as l3, [4 may be arranged in both of the clips or between the Walls I 0, la with the end of the latter partition abutting the side surface of the first named partition between the walls II]. This type of mounting is especially adaptable to counters where the partition i6, mounted as above described, forms the front upstanding wall of the counter or a corresponding rear wall, and the partition 13-44 would constitute one of the partitions arranged transversely of the counter or forwardly and backwardly.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

1. A device for supporting two or more partition walls disposed in angular relation with respect to each other, said device comprising a rectangular flat base plate adapted to be secured to a supporting surface, a pair of U-shaped clips projecting upwardly from one surface of said base plate and adjacent edges of the pair of clips being spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the distance between the side walls of said clips where they join the base plate.

2. A device for supporting two or more partition walls disposed in angular relation with respect to each other, said device comprising a rectangular fiat base plate adapted to be secured to: a supporting surface, a pair of U-shaped clips projecting upwardly from one surface of said base plate and adjacent edges of the pair of clips being spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the distance betwen the side walls of said clips where they join the base plate, and the upper ends of the side walls of said clips being flared outwardly.

3. A supporting device of the class described comprising a rectangular fiat base adapted to be secured to a supporting surface, said base consisting of a continuous peripheral edge portion and a central cross web portion integral with said edge portion and forming four substantially rectangular apertures in said base and opposite side edges of one of the cross webs including integral upwardly extending walls forming in conjunction with said web two U-shaped clips arranged in common alinement on the base and spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the width of the other web of the cross web structure.

PIERRE H. MEYER. 

